JOINING a rising vary of electrical Mercedes-Benz EQ automobiles is the EQB small/medium SUV that, for the primary time, affords patrons a Benz seven-seat choice from below $100,000.
The entry value for 2023 EQB five-seater is from $87,800 plus on-road prices.
The electron powered newcomer is basically a completely electrical model of the GLB thermal powered SUV with slight dimensional modifications and naturally, totally different styling on the entrance with a closed in grille for improved aerodynamics rated at an environment friendly 0.28Cd.
It follows different pure electrical ‘Benz automobiles in Australia, the EQA, EQC and EQS which have sequentially arrived right here since 2021.
Different Benz EQ fashions due earlier than the top of the 12 months embody the EQE sedan, EQV people-mover and more-potent EQA350. Others observe subsequent 12 months as a part of Mercedes-Benz’s plan to be totally electrical by the top of the last decade.
Two EQB fashions can be found: single motor, entrance wheel drive EQB250 and twin motor EQB350 4Matic all-wheel drive with the previous obtainable in five- and seven-seat configuration and the latter as a five-seater solely.
Costs are $87,800 plus ORCs for the EQB250 5 seat, $90,700 plus ORCs for the EQB seven seat and $106,700 plus ORCs for the 4Matic EQB350 five-seater.
On the coronary heart of the EQB is an electrical drivetrain developed by Mercedes-EQ particularly for the Mercedes-EQ compact SUV vary. The system’s working temperature is optimised by way of cooling of the electrical motors and the facility electronics, in addition to of the high-voltage lithium-ion battery.
To additional cut back noise and vibration, which usually turn out to be extra noticeable within the absence of the sound of a combustion engine, Mercedes-EQ engineers remoted the drive unit from the supporting body, and the supporting body from the body-in-white.
The lithium-ion battery serves because the central vitality storage unit for the electrical drive system. Its excessive vitality density supplies a usable vitality content material of 66.5kWh. Weighing 469kg, this unit is split into a number of modules that are distributed beneath the automobile flooring to create a beneficial centre of gravity.
The EQB250’s electrical traction motor is sweet for 140kW of energy and 385Nm of torque whereas the battery pack has a claimed WLTP score vary of 371km.
The EQB350 runs a 215kW and 520Nm twin motor arrange able to 360km vary. The twin e-motors, one mounted on every axle, allow energy to be despatched variably the place it’s most wanted, and with a low centre of gravity because of the flat, large battery pack optimally distributed beneath the ground, the EQB350 offers a secure but agile driving expertise, says Mercedes-Benz.
The 0-100km/h dash takes 6.2 seconds.
Charging choices for each fashions embody an on board AC charger that permits as much as 11kW feed in. The automobile additionally supplies direct present (DC) charging of as much as 100kW, with a ten to 80 per cent quick cost taking a claimed half-hour.
By way of security, EQB will experience off thermal powered GLB’s five-star EuroNCAP score achieved again in 2019. Which means a 95 per cent rating for grownup occupant safety, 91 per cent for kids, 78 per cent for weak highway customers, and 74 per cent for security help.
Every variant contains the next energetic security gear as commonplace: autonomous emergency braking (automobile, pedestrian, and bicycle owner), lane-keep help, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise management, route-based pace adaptation, blind-spot alert, rear-cross site visitors alert.
As with different autos within the Mercedes-EQ passenger automobile line-up, the EQB250 contains acoustic ambient safety, which mitigates the danger posed to pedestrians and cyclists by the automobile’s silent drivetrain by sounding an audible warning at speeds under 20km/h, plus a reversing tone.
Options discovered within the EQB250 variant embody 19-inch two-tone alloy wheels, a ten.25-inch MBUX infotainment system, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, satellite tv for pc navigation, DAB+ digital radio, 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, heated entrance seats, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 360-degree digicam system, keyless entry and push-button begin, hands-free energy tailgate, low-speed pedestrian alert sound and reversing tone, adaptive suspension, LED headlights, adaptive excessive beam, LED entrance mild strip, rain-sensing wipers, tyre stress monitoring, 64-colour configurable ambient lighting, sort 2 CCS charging cable.
Step as much as the EQB350 and it good points 20-inch black alloy wheels , AMG exterior styling, sports activities seats with adjustable head restraints, suede upholstery with pink stitching, Nappa leather-based sports activities steering wheel, AMG carpet flooring mats, backlit spiral-look trim components, illuminated door sill, and a panoramic glass sunroof.
A number of choice packs can be found together with the Version 1 package deal which can be obtainable for “a restricted time”.
Each Mercedes-Benz EQB fashions can be found in native showrooms now.
